... the CDU to single-handedly form a government in the event of victory, and in the coalition negotiations, the stake on stability may already play against the party. Since 2013, the “grand coalition” of the CDU/CSU and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) has been in power. In the absence of traditional competition, the “crisis of the centre” proved fatal for the Social Democrats, who ceased to be associated with the working class and the centre-left agenda and lost their voters.
It is difficult ...
... country with such a big self-conception in social and economic life. This, however, never was brought to the attention of the Germans and the parties packed it into set phrases such as “Time for more equity” („Zeit für mehr Gerechtigkeit“, SPD) without giving any idea how to materialise it. The same applies to the poverty rate in Germany rising from an already high 14% (2006) to an even higher 15.7% (2016, source: Paritätischer Gesamtverband) – with a high number of unreported cases since particularly elderly people not applying for social welfare out of shame. This rating ...
... strengthening the European financial and banking system and developing the internal European market which should contribute to economic growth and increased employment.
The decision to introduce an hourly wage at the level of no less than 8.50 euro across Germany became one of the essential compromises for the SPD. Having made this concession the Conservatives achieved a consent to a transition period until 2017 under which (and according to the existing tariff autonomy system which will receive additional guarantees) the employers and trade unions in the regions ...
